Halloween 2012

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last night</div><div style="text-align: center;">there was no question trick-or-treating</div><div style="text-align: center;">had a stronger foothold in our area</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzswBUCdl6R-Q0c4PsR6c3x_Ro3VfrzYmmGYtHAWilzhBusFv0yvjMY5OAY2ZS8Y2KbUjKJkLK7Pq0CfKiClfvkb8_qIokAhxndKgVAtNYBqX_A4fdPEivPQ9BCewTLwYMquyv0SBzwehw/s1600/IMG_2591-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzswBUCdl6R-Q0c4PsR6c3x_Ro3VfrzYmmGYtHAWilzhBusFv0yvjMY5OAY2ZS8Y2KbUjKJkLK7Pq0CfKiClfvkb8_qIokAhxndKgVAtNYBqX_A4fdPEivPQ9BCewTLwYMquyv0SBzwehw/s640/IMG_2591-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whereas only a quarter of houses offered sweets two years ago,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd guess as many as half of the neighbors participated on the same street this year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It feels magical to witness a new tradition in the making,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as it was the first time many of the residents had given away Halloween candy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>ever</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">I heard a few children saying 'cheers' as they left with their goodies,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and neighbors oohed and aahed as to how scary costumes were</div><div style="text-align: center;">{ they don't do 'cute' costumes here }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The evening ended with a typical English rain</div><div style="text-align: center;">which made it easy to call it a night</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a look at the goodies we received</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlop0BLJYdNkU9WWKzqq1Ji-aBQYESqrEJT9wyymCoVyrnScz7CFMBugWDZlouRQM9g39md_e88wO_2KB58TA-UfXR3Oy2aLOQsy7QSXjAz106wjpXnU9Zhkp-SeJ4G6Ido7cZyvfSxwKB/s1600/DSC03509-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlop0BLJYdNkU9WWKzqq1Ji-aBQYESqrEJT9wyymCoVyrnScz7CFMBugWDZlouRQM9g39md_e88wO_2KB58TA-UfXR3Oy2aLOQsy7QSXjAz106wjpXnU9Zhkp-SeJ4G6Ido7cZyvfSxwKB/s640/DSC03509-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe Parma Violets are a very old-fashioned sweet here,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I'm not sure the words 'foam' and 'candy' should ever meet on the same package :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Americans will be pleased to know those yummy Marathon braided bars of yesteryear</div><div style="text-align: center;">are alive and well in the UK as Curly Wurlies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How was your Halloween?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Halloween 2012

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Last night there was no question trick-or-treating had a stronger foothold in our area Whereas only a quarter o...

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California cool

Back in 2006, there was a home featured in Home Beautiful magazine. It was a renovated California bungalow in Melbourne, and had the perfect classic contemporary style.Gorgeous windows, great layout, and if it was in Brisbane, it would be mine....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenh35L71q-D7lksyfwONoKarefgyATnK-cfJmzs-X6FD-2Hi6i-b9PE5f3QHTY2noNx_PM61bposs4edee5I0KWya_rob2FRMxbwDMq9z5PiRDGrhQwR4vtHE97pItOjvowdZodaWc5Ne/s1600/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenh35L71q-D7lksyfwONoKarefgyATnK-cfJmzs-X6FD-2Hi6i-b9PE5f3QHTY2noNx_PM61bposs4edee5I0KWya_rob2FRMxbwDMq9z5PiRDGrhQwR4vtHE97pItOjvowdZodaWc5Ne/s640/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFgAdPj7uBtrkLfTVRXg6uMPg7zrtC_z_3e-jiXOQtVp62SYc6yYOP6izkatwqaRZ3Y_jNiWUbVJ7LM9hN2DWyRLzR3J_XTxwILIWJS_pJmykC-rLVq5tQoyiTKBBWs9bKaalrl1OEQcQ/s1600/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFgAdPj7uBtrkLfTVRXg6uMPg7zrtC_z_3e-jiXOQtVp62SYc6yYOP6izkatwqaRZ3Y_jNiWUbVJ7LM9hN2DWyRLzR3J_XTxwILIWJS_pJmykC-rLVq5tQoyiTKBBWs9bKaalrl1OEQcQ/s640/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmG6-ifQCSmj7ZwSDP7FI5ES6s8hzyNzzWOLiMK_jAd1bOomAoNVIxWRQJ70ZA45Y51LVnuUXKYVLlRUPpnqKKUnaJ7x8IJiGB6cS7iQKoLwj_kZkMT7pWC3YoXKVaiW4ZCxOQKdXF60q/s1600/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmG6-ifQCSmj7ZwSDP7FI5ES6s8hzyNzzWOLiMK_jAd1bOomAoNVIxWRQJ70ZA45Y51LVnuUXKYVLlRUPpnqKKUnaJ7x8IJiGB6cS7iQKoLwj_kZkMT7pWC3YoXKVaiW4ZCxOQKdXF60q/s640/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3arnwDG5WVK5BG_14pHfbE3meViHa02PWW1w_gy5RfSloaTWYngU9HWyGwuaySblEUbgmaj3RyJgj1sWtCKnMSA0qv6zv-4u_EYHGmNVFa8Adv0X8Ro9XxVOZNScwOuSsqkP3ySNRFIBu/s1600/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3arnwDG5WVK5BG_14pHfbE3meViHa02PWW1w_gy5RfSloaTWYngU9HWyGwuaySblEUbgmaj3RyJgj1sWtCKnMSA0qv6zv-4u_EYHGmNVFa8Adv0X8Ro9XxVOZNScwOuSsqkP3ySNRFIBu/s640/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZurKZ74_D9hjscPj9ZVvkb7NPk269ZSLigPLmwxYpV0mAApvzT7VrBtz38g8ZKuCZRCuig4Q80ucndO0Mj8HXSkzdrAphu-KfHacvENZsxgIYLLM3kYVn_q5wSTSHnOdS1ee-PUKRFFAd/s1600/139+wattle+valley+dr+camberwell8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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California cool

Back in 2006, there was a home featured in Home Beautiful magazine. It was a renovated California bungalow in Melbourne, and had the perfect...

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An Autumn Canvas

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPiNNsfDIbdpXBEgc4B5sabdE6Hd058E7P9CkLbADfLbu6W_IwiH_S27HSPbEMLxxtSLcRpDU8PJu077c_5V0nWUOq9yybXLCuSGw4eh_AQ-k67IUTThCMbXk9bplTNX-7RZH4Y0nLrnO/s1600/DSC03202-0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPiNNsfDIbdpXBEgc4B5sabdE6Hd058E7P9CkLbADfLbu6W_IwiH_S27HSPbEMLxxtSLcRpDU8PJu077c_5V0nWUOq9yybXLCuSGw4eh_AQ-k67IUTThCMbXk9bplTNX-7RZH4Y0nLrnO/s400/DSC03202-0022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Celebrating my third autumn in England,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this year has been the most beautiful by far</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxCXAqz01nGEpE4CkKviNFJIa5hrH33mmWg93AkSmrAVFz6zT1dEQoRLmBHgWLZ-e25GKjd7wgCOfWFqTtS4ZSOqxH7g6jKAYrLBc2rkx-tIqlajg9N9BH2uM_Ocpe2Tla7dppb-xerDO/s1600/DSC03327-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxCXAqz01nGEpE4CkKviNFJIa5hrH33mmWg93AkSmrAVFz6zT1dEQoRLmBHgWLZ-e25GKjd7wgCOfWFqTtS4ZSOqxH7g6jKAYrLBc2rkx-tIqlajg9N9BH2uM_Ocpe2Tla7dppb-xerDO/s640/DSC03327-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Maples (acers) and virginia creepers are clothed in crimson</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beech trees dot the landscape in copper</div><div style="text-align: center;">while birch's paintbrush is dipped in amber</div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEmCRipdP7-rI4tKRrgu2h0MAUlEdxqusKZm4oig8vbfuLT49MYNTfH6iWdzIMfOKVHxAsjoI151BfIsBKX69egjgUjcoQ4PqVRUg3MY1hsVJFoBPgj4uwuoOsZB1onr5fOOtYHRAQGDk/s1600/DSC03352-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEmCRipdP7-rI4tKRrgu2h0MAUlEdxqusKZm4oig8vbfuLT49MYNTfH6iWdzIMfOKVHxAsjoI151BfIsBKX69egjgUjcoQ4PqVRUg3MY1hsVJFoBPgj4uwuoOsZB1onr5fOOtYHRAQGDk/s640/DSC03352-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am told Canadian soldiers from WWII planted many of the maples</div><div style="text-align: center;">in southeast England to remind them of home</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUnC-zAB1NmVvHU-q-yHAoDE5YUlG1F8wLn4e7VnENeTk5avQbeoA9C0RNWe7d2YEJPJfJAW7Rp8etHrRpryTzJ6DLkfoQGy65JesugWA-19H9HB6uE33JdfaHfxG4TxBcYVIE-TGJBG4/s1600/IMG_2709-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUnC-zAB1NmVvHU-q-yHAoDE5YUlG1F8wLn4e7VnENeTk5avQbeoA9C0RNWe7d2YEJPJfJAW7Rp8etHrRpryTzJ6DLkfoQGy65JesugWA-19H9HB6uE33JdfaHfxG4TxBcYVIE-TGJBG4/s640/IMG_2709-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel the trees giving a last yawn of color</div><div style="text-align: center;">before they cozy-down for bed, </div><div style="text-align: center;">preparing for their awakening in Spring</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{ sending the love to my friends and readers impacted by Sandy }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

An Autumn Canvas

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Celebrating my third autumn in England, this year has been the most beautiful by far Maples (acers) and virgini...

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London: Ceremony Of The Keys

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdlunezZpVpW8FXDDINbiE0DMhmik6zwc97UySvxv9Ps6di62TlMzYMvFkxmYM4oT8JN3Y-e5L5w_YqNxy6BlHl8TqPzJo-YZWFviyWb8fBWD4xf0Pab_p31xfbTAl3Ivss2IJpSSvt_C/s1600/DSC03433-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdlunezZpVpW8FXDDINbiE0DMhmik6zwc97UySvxv9Ps6di62TlMzYMvFkxmYM4oT8JN3Y-e5L5w_YqNxy6BlHl8TqPzJo-YZWFviyWb8fBWD4xf0Pab_p31xfbTAl3Ivss2IJpSSvt_C/s640/DSC03433-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower Of London</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Last weekend</div><div style="text-align: center;">we attended the Ceremony Of The Keys,</div><div style="text-align: center;">one of the oldest ceremonies in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">and definitely the shortest</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lasting only seven minutes,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we witnessed the official 9:30p lock up of this national fortress</div><div style="text-align: center;">which holds the Crown Jewels</div><div style="text-align: center;">as well as many stories of beheadings and WWII spies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Built by William The Conqueror</div><div style="text-align: center;">and used as a palace until James I,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Tower Of London became a well known prison thereafter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apply <a href="http://www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/WhatsOn/theceremonyofthekeys">here</a> for free tickets to observe this 760 year old tradition</div><div style="text-align: center;">of passing the Queen's keys</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photo by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

London: Ceremony Of The Keys

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Tower Of London Last weekend we attended the Ceremony Of The Keys, one of the oldest ceremonies in England and ...

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Lunch in London, Dinner In Sydney

Posted By HappyHomemakerUK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One day it could come true</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Four hours from London to Sydney</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the newest Concorde-inspired jet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkP6qab492awDmEt37XcSdG6TV2O9DiBmInSf4wDYdESPUov-x8-stLhIdBdE-qDSCcOgwNoY2Adm-qCpz1ulA67PryZCQFU_dqLPcqKqQDQ5XpwmJXXwnF1KZTzwhrxM-Vt6rbTClkE9/s1600/il_570xN.298281493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkP6qab492awDmEt37XcSdG6TV2O9DiBmInSf4wDYdESPUov-x8-stLhIdBdE-qDSCcOgwNoY2Adm-qCpz1ulA67PryZCQFU_dqLPcqKqQDQ5XpwmJXXwnF1KZTzwhrxM-Vt6rbTClkE9/s400/il_570xN.298281493.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pendant available via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/peahenLee?ref=seller_info">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boeing, Gulfstream and NASA have teamed together</div><div style="text-align: center;">to reduce the sonic boom</div><div style="text-align: center;">and to make a lighter aircraft</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't imagine life in 2020,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I love seeing glimpses of the possibilities</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't you?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2163953/Nasa-joins-race-build-successor-Corncorde-capable-flying-London-Sydney-FOUR-HOURS.html">Daily Mail</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/son-of-concorde-jet-to-fly-from-london-to-sydney-in-four-hours_n_1623770.html">Huffington Post</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Lunch in London, Dinner In Sydney

Posted By HappyHomemakerUK One day it could come true Four hours from London to Sydney in the newest Concorde-inspired jet Pendant available...

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Trick Or Treating In England

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In Ireland and Britain<br />during the Middle Ages on Hallowmas { November 1 }<br /> people went door-to-door in costume<br />receiving food in return for prayers for the dead<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsENNUPhUlzdNHGFB4A30aRbwcQwI5Qa88emAA1MUDYPJUKpQwjn9V6YsUQWSKnAAwVmYb4ZPIKQFda3ie3MfqnPBcLCsTSMtf9AxRIxJ0QmVkNGRfmm_oM3M6jgbpLFlrBWiCk-1hg8A/s1600/DSCN5788-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsENNUPhUlzdNHGFB4A30aRbwcQwI5Qa88emAA1MUDYPJUKpQwjn9V6YsUQWSKnAAwVmYb4ZPIKQFda3ie3MfqnPBcLCsTSMtf9AxRIxJ0QmVkNGRfmm_oM3M6jgbpLFlrBWiCk-1hg8A/s640/DSCN5788-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Fast-forward to 1895<br />for the first record of '<i>guising</i>' in Scotland,<br />where children in disguise visited neighbors<br /><br />performing a poem, song, or joke<br />to receive cake, fruit or money for their efforts<br />{ practiced later in Ireland too }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />They carried lanterns made of scooped-out turnips<br />{ which was on the menu the following day }<br /><br />First record of guising in North America was in<br />1911<br /><br />Some point before 1940, guising evolved to 'trick-or-treating'<br />on Halloween night in the western US and Canada<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviYh721jjAIhPj5mYgxWyPRSHk7mLzniyPKJwDIYneaZm5queL8zWx90eMulsW-tSpoMF_3EpR3dkUfHt78uC-eLQZ9pjghI0ysSDZ4tZthK9uqHcyIKm_C5lvHsMpCkWs-3aO7731-Q/s1600/DSCN5729-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviYh721jjAIhPj5mYgxWyPRSHk7mLzniyPKJwDIYneaZm5queL8zWx90eMulsW-tSpoMF_3EpR3dkUfHt78uC-eLQZ9pjghI0ysSDZ4tZthK9uqHcyIKm_C5lvHsMpCkWs-3aO7731-Q/s640/DSCN5729-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Although this annual US event of<br />asking for candy without a performance was stalled<br />by sugar rationing from 1942-1947 due to World War II,<br /><br />trick-or-treating picked up steam<br />with the mass production of costumes<br />and attention given to it in children's magazines and radio shows<br /><br />firmly establishing it in American pop culture by 1952<br /><br />Today<br /><span style="text-align: start;">Halloween has a really fun vibe to it </span><br /><span style="text-align: start;">and is generally loved by everyone</span><br /><span style="text-align: start;">in the US</span><br /><br />It's a time<br />for parties in classrooms and among adults,<br />for catching up with neighbors,<br />for giggly teenagers to scare themselves at staged haunted houses<br />{ I haven't seen those here }<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTSFM-Q8vMne1TEST2aBEXnDbnA10jSh9G4o2tbcHhLmXn0T_NKnXexJiCzqc-JPFKAt6l866ah5BmdGqSYf2p8d5egHvBMIIdMF7V_0j_U2Ci06J_MFVxE8XsXLoz_MKtrPx61vShP0/s1600/DSCN1145-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTSFM-Q8vMne1TEST2aBEXnDbnA10jSh9G4o2tbcHhLmXn0T_NKnXexJiCzqc-JPFKAt6l866ah5BmdGqSYf2p8d5egHvBMIIdMF7V_0j_U2Ci06J_MFVxE8XsXLoz_MKtrPx61vShP0/s640/DSCN1145-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Carving pumpkins is an American tradition, as pumpkins are native to America</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">{ and bigger than turnips }</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Trick-or-treating' in England is viewed as an American export<br />and not necessarily a welcome one</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In 2007 the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7067804.stm">BBC News</a> wrote<br />the 'authentically ancient festival' of Halloween<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">has been hijacked by trick or treating' </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">and cited</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the 1986 House of Lords debate about</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #464646; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">trick-or-treating being not a tradition, </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">but American for begging</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">{ Yikes! }</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seasonal decorations displayed on house exteriors is considered 'in bad taste'<br />so we have festive window stickers at the back of the house<br />{ plus some spooky fake [and real] cobwebs hanging inside }<br /><br />Therefore<br />a giant blow up ghost popping out of a pumpkin<br />would never be seen in front of someone's home here as<br />1) electricity is too expensive<br />2) you would be calling attention to yourself</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSj5zaTHWZO54qLTT_HGgAGCatumdNiP9PND5OchhXYN_qu3qEDA31teKocpCL8NdNdSlc-Unyj3Dy57b6Kn4122nrbqDzwShh3fruCjIuM2XCHa9C0lkrUAHf2oWPAT7PkAFDcqzCxo/s1600/DSC_0535-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSj5zaTHWZO54qLTT_HGgAGCatumdNiP9PND5OchhXYN_qu3qEDA31teKocpCL8NdNdSlc-Unyj3Dy57b6Kn4122nrbqDzwShh3fruCjIuM2XCHa9C0lkrUAHf2oWPAT7PkAFDcqzCxo/s640/DSC_0535-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Halloween is more of a dark occasion here,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which makes the older generations nervous about bad behavior<br />in a society that closely guards its privacy<br /><br />My first year I saw 'No Trick Or Treaters Here' fliers distributed for posting on doors<br /><br />To indicate trick-or-treaters are welcome at a home,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a pumpkin or lit candle will be outside the front door</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />However each year there seems to be<br />increased lightening and acceptance of this event<br /><br />evidenced by more Halloween displays in store windows<br />and more aisle space dedicated to bagged candy, costumes, and knickknacks<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOktaY6xYMvN8FobEF5iaYx9d6_vzO1-YCHpNM95qCBx6mIegLAFE84EVg3AqZnzTiSwLjIMtdLLwRFMkqfzTQFc8LEzLYd5UJduj8rZyXUtKxZ7olKIhryc3pjp2h2XRSg6nxJDOLL4/s1600/DSC_0004-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOktaY6xYMvN8FobEF5iaYx9d6_vzO1-YCHpNM95qCBx6mIegLAFE84EVg3AqZnzTiSwLjIMtdLLwRFMkqfzTQFc8LEzLYd5UJduj8rZyXUtKxZ7olKIhryc3pjp2h2XRSg6nxJDOLL4/s640/DSC_0004-37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Although most English parents never trick-or-treated as children,<br />it is catching on and their children are enthusiastic about it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Children's costumes are scary or gory</div><div style="text-align: center;">- skeletons, witches, ghouls -<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">never 'cute' like a puppy dog<br />or Disney characters<br />{ that would be seen as bizarre }<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y3j1MoswTF_8gTySShFGZ1myOfWIAMoa24Lofx4KHPOkaZiZ6V9zOs1bhuhOLM1mIjRAqt_wpN-BUamykBmiUQ7oe8jaBSlUavjPYbVUcLSXQE6uBM_iAZNJCKEmFniHwnr7UKruT-s/s1600/DSCN5795-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y3j1MoswTF_8gTySShFGZ1myOfWIAMoa24Lofx4KHPOkaZiZ6V9zOs1bhuhOLM1mIjRAqt_wpN-BUamykBmiUQ7oe8jaBSlUavjPYbVUcLSXQE6uBM_iAZNJCKEmFniHwnr7UKruT-s/s640/DSCN5795-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many houses have spooky 'fog machines'</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">{ well, ventilation for boilers, actually }</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I noticed trick-or-treat bags are quite small,<br />humbly not wanting to seem greedy<br />{ some Americans bring pillowcases to fill in the US }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />English neighbors typically give one piece of candy or one coin<br /><br />Our street is filled with elderly neighbors,<br />so I expect none of them will be participating<br /><br />We will seek a street with more family homes<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqsA3qsjOWpQ7Gpb-OnVMw9YOoTVbPklPsAmZz9r7CIw6yrbQdgYqAS9Hdvw6hrnLY4pkRqlmzDSIIgV3KT2UqeocilvM96SBLM5yEIZy7VqzJjcN_JBgEdg0lIxl13JRVTmoWAI-HxM/s1600/DSCN5212-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqsA3qsjOWpQ7Gpb-OnVMw9YOoTVbPklPsAmZz9r7CIw6yrbQdgYqAS9Hdvw6hrnLY4pkRqlmzDSIIgV3KT2UqeocilvM96SBLM5yEIZy7VqzJjcN_JBgEdg0lIxl13JRVTmoWAI-HxM/s640/DSCN5212-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />American readers are probably thinking<br />how nice it must be to avoid the heavy commercialization of Halloween,<br /><br />but with no Thanksgiving in England<br />you can bet Christmas paraphernalia has been for sale since the beginning of October!<br /><br />Happy Halloween, y'all :)<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick_or_treat">1</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween">2</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_costume">3</a>. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7067804.stm">BBC</a>, <a href="http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_halloween.htm">Rampants Scotland</a></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Trick Or Treating In England

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK In Ireland and Britain during the Middle Ages on Hallowmas { November 1 }  people went door-to-door in costume ...

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Road Trip: Normandy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Much anticipated,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we spent a long weekend in</div><div style="text-align: center;">France</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6jwRmlrm2OoB3rwiqB6yYQHxmEQ5Hd5fmKwAIK5l5UQUMyJPsK2nHvB7ENvesJ_5_MeZhPp_sLIa91M6me2-6WB73GL1LR9xpsONsXt7H_9yE_bsTMsG1CIUJqlfW8p1DmrtoaNQC5ia/s1600/DSC03044-0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6jwRmlrm2OoB3rwiqB6yYQHxmEQ5Hd5fmKwAIK5l5UQUMyJPsK2nHvB7ENvesJ_5_MeZhPp_sLIa91M6me2-6WB73GL1LR9xpsONsXt7H_9yE_bsTMsG1CIUJqlfW8p1DmrtoaNQC5ia/s640/DSC03044-0024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonjour, Miss Dreamy :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took the Eurostar train to Calais</div><div style="text-align: center;">and drove south to Normandy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCz7ywwF-fYJbpPPfvmkzTs1aIo4gMc9SdbBuRSD2elie4a7jsJLoPpUy8O7hnzKjLAQ8FBSjD4rGHi8YJj9oQn2jYhpv8XXSTiNq0yrtmUBgnMj3xd9AeDaM8oOmuHyFZPnpRU_MgceC/s1600/DSC03020-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCz7ywwF-fYJbpPPfvmkzTs1aIo4gMc9SdbBuRSD2elie4a7jsJLoPpUy8O7hnzKjLAQ8FBSjD4rGHi8YJj9oQn2jYhpv8XXSTiNq0yrtmUBgnMj3xd9AeDaM8oOmuHyFZPnpRU_MgceC/s640/DSC03020-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honfleur</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">France and England have a long history in this region</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All English schoolchildren know that in 1066<span style="font-size: xx-small;">AD</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">William The Conqueror (Duke of Normandy)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> invaded England,</div><div style="text-align: center;">creating a huge turning point in English history</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't it a wonder why he left?</div><div style="text-align: center;">So gorgeous :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREaC30PqMBfQZWinxJYl72C_w9RnGDHE_KPaCZh-P0AZxipYQZdiyts5Z7HApattXGrUZ3WSbkc1uMULDKxT1gZe5D-lcoW2oGt6GQg39H15WOUURQwyvqPc6r0AYol1ZlePXcCcdPPlQ/s1600/DSC03258-017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREaC30PqMBfQZWinxJYl72C_w9RnGDHE_KPaCZh-P0AZxipYQZdiyts5Z7HApattXGrUZ3WSbkc1uMULDKxT1gZe5D-lcoW2oGt6GQg39H15WOUURQwyvqPc6r0AYol1ZlePXcCcdPPlQ/s640/DSC03258-017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayeux</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Centuries later</div><div style="text-align: center;">French Normandy was occupied by England forces</div><div style="text-align: center;">during the Hundred Years' War (1345 - 1360)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then again 1415 - 1450</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DrL6yUJn_VrKYmQM59qmPRQ1ULAmII6Y7mBy67SqDZqlBMYNDGD_H9UWfpcm_93QUl25euzGah12nwyRmN40Vm-RmzCal_mY3mYeDJfeD3-j0gIdWrnkX-vtjrI6NdXVPBX3dBmLe9bd/s1600/DSC03228-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DrL6yUJn_VrKYmQM59qmPRQ1ULAmII6Y7mBy67SqDZqlBMYNDGD_H9UWfpcm_93QUl25euzGah12nwyRmN40Vm-RmzCal_mY3mYeDJfeD3-j0gIdWrnkX-vtjrI6NdXVPBX3dBmLe9bd/s640/DSC03228-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayeux</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another major turning point in history -</div><div style="text-align: center;">Normandy is famous for the D-Day landings</div><div style="text-align: center;">on June 6, 1944</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took a guided tour of the area</div><div style="text-align: center;">{ fascinating and moving }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_teM3noMuRTD_GeuZ2sYHF74_VqU5EyBk8oHuAO3XgU6mqw2P8oAWRXsdAmaSQGmDFMgkrVAHZQcYQ4PYnTABoCiwN3KOemQ2cXDfM8eyFjuBoSAX7inFZvlPLWLrBJAPREWd2_q9tIK/s1600/Normandy+Collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_teM3noMuRTD_GeuZ2sYHF74_VqU5EyBk8oHuAO3XgU6mqw2P8oAWRXsdAmaSQGmDFMgkrVAHZQcYQ4PYnTABoCiwN3KOemQ2cXDfM8eyFjuBoSAX7inFZvlPLWLrBJAPREWd2_q9tIK/s640/Normandy+Collage1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D-Day landing site<br />Normandy American Cemetery<br />Craters from bombings</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">'g</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">î</span><span style="text-align: center;">tes' are popular accommodations in France</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">They are self-catering cottages</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some include breakfast</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZDrskvj4caALV9FLJAL3U8CqLuV7MdjFd-6VY1oX919TDG14bZnCjE1v4mThwxW11maJERwghFsBE_B_fXDS0bOD0QmF_ltobyQH5amBZfQP7j4HF219SXMLVs7GMfcWES8ylon_DtGK/s1600/DSC03184-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZDrskvj4caALV9FLJAL3U8CqLuV7MdjFd-6VY1oX919TDG14bZnCjE1v4mThwxW11maJERwghFsBE_B_fXDS0bOD0QmF_ltobyQH5amBZfQP7j4HF219SXMLVs7GMfcWES8ylon_DtGK/s640/DSC03184-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The few times we've traveled to France,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I liked it but I didn't really 'get' it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But since our recent trip to Normandy,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've pulled out the guidebook</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to hatch a plan...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpvQpt8nQ4IipBtyS53W_6G7ickXmYSrANzNu5M6MucRIDEOVhwDuaQOit8FckJr34yUyxUF_A3Ly-wKEP0xC_pJ1VoDx_KfDHirhUrCXLXS_GUTGKah76RuKBVJTfNiBlhMclfcpC3yz/s1600/DSC03135-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpvQpt8nQ4IipBtyS53W_6G7ickXmYSrANzNu5M6MucRIDEOVhwDuaQOit8FckJr34yUyxUF_A3Ly-wKEP0xC_pJ1VoDx_KfDHirhUrCXLXS_GUTGKah76RuKBVJTfNiBlhMclfcpC3yz/s640/DSC03135-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...for adding more photos to my French collection :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Love!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by moi -</i></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy">Wikipedia</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Road Trip: Normandy

Much anticipated, we spent a long weekend in France Bonjour, Miss Dreamy :) We took the Eurostar train to Calais and drove south to Normandy...

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Driving In France

Posted By Happy Homemaker<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Imagine my surprise<br />when I learned we needed a <i>driving kit</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">to legally drive in France</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Europeans know,<br />but American readers may be asking themselves<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What</div><div style="text-align: center;">is<br />a<br /> 'driving kit'<br />exactly?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqI9TIU3UyxuJ-6F60RBhzzlpzQMUCul38AB7bYOuU7lIPhb27TL30zCwEAQsuPvimN-78XK12q5ntnCgVtU-U2DspoPjJXthEwLBwyfIgEEPOS-LvRaXzm1vBf-pobi82axJpylxUfuy6/s1600/41tn7XXCs1L._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqI9TIU3UyxuJ-6F60RBhzzlpzQMUCul38AB7bYOuU7lIPhb27TL30zCwEAQsuPvimN-78XK12q5ntnCgVtU-U2DspoPjJXthEwLBwyfIgEEPOS-LvRaXzm1vBf-pobi82axJpylxUfuy6/s320/41tn7XXCs1L._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sold by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Driving-France-Approved-Alcohol-Detectors/dp/B00857P6WM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350387952&sr=8-1">Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Safety vest (inside car, not in trunk)<br />Warning triangle</div><div style="text-align: center;">Extra lightbulbs for lamps</div><div style="text-align: center;">First aid kit<br />Fire extinguisher</div><div style="text-align: center;">GB sticker for plates not already indicating British registration<br /><br />Headlamp Converters<br />(something about driving on the other side of the road<br />requires that you change out the lights<br />as it may 'dazzle' oncoming traffic?)<br /><br />And required as of July 2012, <b style="font-style: italic;">two breathalyzer test kits</b><br /><br />If you wear corrective lenses,<br />it's the law to carry <i>a spare pair of glasses</i><br /><i> </i>even if you wear contact lenses</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i>Penalty for not having these items if stopped by police?<br />On the spot fine (cash only) or suffer your car being impounded<br /><br />Thank goodness I now have the common European signs under my belt<br />but I quickly learned there were a few French road signs omitted<br />in the extra credit section of my UK driver's test<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntOYSTe5dh0SGm6yrQwZ8GV8H6gfVaN_xiJNKXqy8hXli45G4MgNtND9iY8dwetMZB39PMrO1BnuSIGJDst-I1iPsZEFpul52GUNgymnvZd_CnksvBgX2_fflMEpnphLJg587GN3eH7Kx/s1600/Happy+Homemaker+20123-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntOYSTe5dh0SGm6yrQwZ8GV8H6gfVaN_xiJNKXqy8hXli45G4MgNtND9iY8dwetMZB39PMrO1BnuSIGJDst-I1iPsZEFpul52GUNgymnvZd_CnksvBgX2_fflMEpnphLJg587GN3eH7Kx/s320/Happy+Homemaker+20123-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This mysterious 'x marks the spot' </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">indicates you are either nearing buried treasure or </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">you are coming to a junction and the right has the right of way</div><div><br /></div>The diamond indicates the main road has priority<br />The crossed out priority means the traffic on the right has priority<br />(or a seatbelt is hugging the sign)<br /><br />Shouldn't this get some kind of violence rating?<br />Yikes!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IGxX7EzM1Ic2UzWn_nN-R0FaXCbAkZmh91XMwAy7Hfn5SH7d_12gi3aQAco5ZBKHIOFJLwDn1I5FH1_6Ei4miyxzC3oRCGR2BLh8f81lqYP41XsXMWu5tcOUp4rDdq2H7zN75bOZQfEu/s1600/Happy+Homemaker+20122-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IGxX7EzM1Ic2UzWn_nN-R0FaXCbAkZmh91XMwAy7Hfn5SH7d_12gi3aQAco5ZBKHIOFJLwDn1I5FH1_6Ei4miyxzC3oRCGR2BLh8f81lqYP41XsXMWu5tcOUp4rDdq2H7zN75bOZQfEu/s320/Happy+Homemaker+20122-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />You can imagine when I saw all these goodies<br />it just sang<br /><i>blog post </i><br />;)<br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://conversation.which.co.uk/transport-travel/car-safety-abroad-driving-europe/">Which?</a>, <a href="http://www.brittany-internet.com/BrittanyNews/DrivingFrance/tabid/155/Default.aspx">Brittany Internet</a>, <a href="http://www.giteinbrittany.com/documents/LesSignauxRoutiers-2.pdf">Gite In Brittany</a>, <a href="http://www.normandie-chambres.co.uk/bikers_motorbikes.html">Normandy B&B</a></span></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Driving In France

Posted By Happy Homemaker Imagine my surprise when I learned we needed a driving kit to legally drive in France Europeans know, but American...

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Stomping Around Pooh Country

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Having awaited a year to visit 'Pooh Country'</div><div style="text-align: center;">to capture the area as I've pictured it in my head</div><div style="text-align: center;">(aka leaves falling)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I now have images of </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ashdown Forest to share with you,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the real backdrop to AA Milne's</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Winnie-The-Pooh</i> series</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yay!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasSQgmUoS_CThk2ATYt5r1MOjhFWIlM8Bc0FKGs3kHHiIcjh4m0tVsvUbqQE-Zdu-UOlBD7W_r4ric642zMg9-l92dmOT1_cM7kt0q25VVfxXd1t8oA3cCpc8uqr4SB7anrjeXOpGzctW/s1600/DSC02899-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasSQgmUoS_CThk2ATYt5r1MOjhFWIlM8Bc0FKGs3kHHiIcjh4m0tVsvUbqQE-Zdu-UOlBD7W_r4ric642zMg9-l92dmOT1_cM7kt0q25VVfxXd1t8oA3cCpc8uqr4SB7anrjeXOpGzctW/s640/DSC02899-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had tea and picked up a map <a href="http://www.pooh-country.co.uk/">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Located in Sussex,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pooh's Bridge is a short distance from the forest parking lot</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfclpdN7G5j8BC3wh_nXKOEhpQDvRzEsSHBxkWDoejp3coKmBdgXFdnud43tg7lJg1m5X86bCZTWWtrbEoaiMwyJtngQpTuvA0wR2fu_yUxw1ewNabauhZjzzrYmvaJ05PUAXVJfKeOGb7/s1600/DSC02992-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfclpdN7G5j8BC3wh_nXKOEhpQDvRzEsSHBxkWDoejp3coKmBdgXFdnud43tg7lJg1m5X86bCZTWWtrbEoaiMwyJtngQpTuvA0wR2fu_yUxw1ewNabauhZjzzrYmvaJ05PUAXVJfKeOGb7/s640/DSC02992-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pooh Bridge, </div><div style="text-align: center;">where children race floating sticks down the stream</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYEAdg9sL4TSooRMB6Tunmm1Nb9npne42_wCWHMdi-yGqr2g2d4hxDXwCXMybMuF3gjwKBfoggdanYMOQKCyFu2ugvRJLXNtPIuis89UhdOYu7j4CjZ_hPs6W3vOeQxNgOh7LvZ_lcH_h/s1600/DSC02939-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYEAdg9sL4TSooRMB6Tunmm1Nb9npne42_wCWHMdi-yGqr2g2d4hxDXwCXMybMuF3gjwKBfoggdanYMOQKCyFu2ugvRJLXNtPIuis89UhdOYu7j4CjZ_hPs6W3vOeQxNgOh7LvZ_lcH_h/s640/DSC02939-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christopher Robin was the real son of the author</div><div style="text-align: center;">Together they tromped through this open space as a family in the 1920s</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christopher named his teddy bear 'Winnie' </div><div style="text-align: center;">after a bear he'd seen in the London Zoo</div><div style="text-align: center;">The real bear was from Winnipeg, Canada</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Pooh' was the name of a swan they saw on holiday</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first <i>Winnie-The-Pooh</i> collection of stories was published by AA Milne in 1926</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi980-8ucKD6EklFwYTL3705P8zxSI9krErcE4NaLpHGfWFry93qg8sAhk-kl_M0Td-iUg70o7LYcIAlhFLjx71Cg_xVaVbFCUEzOE9Jf738sWDcJvVJMWS8al8k0PsRhSgGvk6Ur8jROQW/s1600/DSC02988-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi980-8ucKD6EklFwYTL3705P8zxSI9krErcE4NaLpHGfWFry93qg8sAhk-kl_M0Td-iUg70o7LYcIAlhFLjx71Cg_xVaVbFCUEzOE9Jf738sWDcJvVJMWS8al8k0PsRhSgGvk6Ur8jROQW/s640/DSC02988-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore, and Piglet were other stuffed animals</div><div style="text-align: center;">belonging to young Christopher</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They now sit in the New York City Public Library</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly, as an adult</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christopher founded</div><div style="text-align: center;">Harbour Bookshop in Dartmouth</div><div style="text-align: center;">(now closed)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcpqBaMYx5VQB4zdU_kIPKz_nrdvrs1ljjp-ltls3ZnWmhA3-Bg6iJNfxZ82TSfZ5b98EJEMmm8vQS8HQaFv0e7gstmwxcTyzgp2ZyVU2STaF5peIoI3i7r0BfM4plvBeRWB_M2cQ1N6g/s1600/DSC03017-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcpqBaMYx5VQB4zdU_kIPKz_nrdvrs1ljjp-ltls3ZnWmhA3-Bg6iJNfxZ82TSfZ5b98EJEMmm8vQS8HQaFv0e7gstmwxcTyzgp2ZyVU2STaF5peIoI3i7r0BfM4plvBeRWB_M2cQ1N6g/s640/DSC03017-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surrounded by gorse and heather, <br />we had a feeling we were nearing a Huffalump Trap</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we were pelted by rain</div><div style="text-align: center;">endured blustery winds </div><div style="text-align: center;">and experienced disorienting fog,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I could just hear a sweet tubby bear exclaiming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh, bother</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorcRP2wCdVVJuwQ72nHkuGxHaheSCS47uG4vkv2WSmlBZEL19eC1zehKpKu5QojOjHiWaoR6kqJwzpXsZHtYzG0SK934p7hq9HGYtCz4jiAl3qbiXDMBl_h8-8J2v5OeJMq-2UiUe3ezM/s1600/DSC03013-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorcRP2wCdVVJuwQ72nHkuGxHaheSCS47uG4vkv2WSmlBZEL19eC1zehKpKu5QojOjHiWaoR6kqJwzpXsZHtYzG0SK934p7hq9HGYtCz4jiAl3qbiXDMBl_h8-8J2v5OeJMq-2UiUe3ezM/s640/DSC03013-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“What day is it?" asked Pooh.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">''It's today," squeaked Piglet.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">''My favorite day," said Pooh.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81466.A_A_Milne" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">A.A. Milne</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a wonderful one :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all  photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking to:<a href="http://www.lifeonplanetbaby.com/"> Life On Planet Baby</a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie-the-Pooh">1</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Robin">2</a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/81466.A_A_Milne">quote</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Stomping Around Pooh Country

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Having awaited a year to visit 'Pooh Country' to capture the area as I've pictured it in my head (a...

Read more »